Job Snapshot

Job Description

USRA’s NASA Academic Missions Services (NAMS) mission is to make a distinctive impact through scientific and technical accomplishments by performing strategic multi-disciplinary, integrative research and science that supports NASA’s long-term mission requirements. A key purpose of this mission is to advance our understanding of how the Earth is changing and the consequences of those changes for life on Earth; through smaller and more cost effective instruments for airborne and space-borne; as well as through Earth System modeling using advanced computing platforms. This is achieved through close collaboration with the Earth Science Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center that conducts research in both Atmospheric Science and Biospheric Science.

Position Summary:

The Visiting Scientist for Earth Science will conduct research to advance our understanding of how the Earth is changing and the consequences of those changes for life on Earth; in the area of Atmospheric Science and/or Biospheric Science. This position is a strategic hire to conduct research and enable research and development collaborations in Earth Science through the following:

Development of new Atmospheric and/or Biospheric models of the Earth System

Development of new approaches for modeling the Earth System using advanced computing platforms

Collaborating with others as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigator (Co-I) on research opportunities

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Satisfy USRA's non-profit mission my making a distinctive impact through scientific and technical accomplishments in the assigned research projects.

Directly perform, and publish, research at the highest standards as a PI, Co-I and as a member of larger research projects.

Plan, schedule, and conduct activities in all phases of research projects, as a PI or Co-I and as a member of a larger research team.

Perform experiments, collect and analyze data.

Prepare research results for publication in reports, papers, journals, books, and other media.

Engage academic, industrial, and government research communities in collaborative research through activities such as seminars and other talks, workshops, and conferences.

Prepare and deliver briefings and presentations to various national and international seminars, talks or lectures for dissemination of knowledge including educational outreach.

Write several publications of considerable interest and value to the field as evidenced by favorable reviews, by citation in the work of others, by presenting papers to professional societies, and/or will have contributed inventions, new designs or research, which are of material significance in the solution of important applied problems.

Engage the academic community in research work through research collaborations, visits, invited guests, workshops, conferences, etc.

Act as a mentor for student interns involved in Earth Science research.

Maintain an awareness of funding opportunities, and seek and obtain funding to ensure continued growth of the impact of the group’s research efforts.

Develop an awareness of NASA’s mission needs and address them to the best of ability.

Maintain an awareness of funding opportunities in area of expertise through internal and external funding agencies; seek and obtain funding to ensure continuation and growth of research efforts.

Serve as a PI or Co-I on proposal submissions to funding opportunities.

Prepare reports of your scientific and other activity for purposes of periodic reports to NASA and USRA management, including for self-evaluation for annual performance appraisals.

Support strategic planning and annual metrics reporting including analyzing and anticipating relevant research trends and their implications, and for program development including efforts to broaden and strengthen the NASA relationship and to diversify the sponsor/customer base.

Continue to learn and develop skills and expertise including completing all trainings as scheduled.

Additional Responsibilities

Act safely, ethically and in compliance with all laws and regulations and USRA policies and procedures including protecting NASA and USRA intellectual property, complying with ITAR/EAR rules, and completing all required training as scheduled.

Work effectively with others including functional staff for day-to-day operations and efforts to improve operational excellence.

Support efforts by USRA Management to ensure that USRA conducts its business operations in an effective, cost-competitive, and professional manner

Other job related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

0 to three years of Postdoctoral work and publication experience in the field of Earth Science

A strong track record of research success as evidenced by publishing related work in peer reviewed journals, and contributing to obtaining new funding in the areas above.

Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Education:

Ph.D. degree in Atmospheric or Biospheric Science or related discipline

Desired Experience:

Experience as a Principal Investigator (PI) on an Earth Science project

Experience working with NASA Earth Science data sources

Experience working with computational approaches for Earth Science

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Ability to prioritize tasks, coordinates work of others, and meets multiple deadlines.

Ability to communicate through conference presentations and scientific publications is essential.

Ability to propose credible and innovative research projects, develop the necessary skills to perform the work, and carry out the research, providing the required reporting to the granting agency in a timely fashion.

Ability to interpret USRA and Federal Policies and Procedures necessary to function in a scientific research environment that is enabled through U.S. Government funds.

Advanced experimental and analytical skills.

Technology:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office or similar and its applications.

Working Conditions:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, etc. This is largely a sedentary role.

Applicants should apply to the posting at https://usracareers.silkroad.com/ and include a letter of interest, resume, or curriculum vita. Review of candidates will begin immediately. Additional information on USRA can be found at www.usra.edu.